Lacock Abbey.
Thursday

My dear Henry –

Though I am to see you so soon, & though you are I think well aware of what my Feeling for you must be at this moment – I cannot keep writing to you one line of renewed congratulations, now that you really are married – to your Wife ^<1> too, I would say every thing most affectionate, but as I could say nothing so persuasively as you would express it – I shall make you my Ambassador. Tell her then how prepared I am to love her – & how earnestly I hope to make her love me. I have little doubt of my doing the one – for the other, you must assert me with your good word & on my Part no effort shall be wanting –

Horatia ^<2> & I arrived last Night expecting to find your Mother ^<3> – ^<4> will not however [illegible deletion] be here till dinner time today – Her letter [text missing] Maidenhead where she [text missing] last Night – The Baby was better. The Delay in her arriving, & some Bother about servants make me glad you have put off your [illegible deletion] Journey till Saturday, by which Time, we shall be quite ready for you – & most happy to receive you – The News from America which I heard today at Bowood ^<5> is most important, being necessarily attended, whatever may be the result to the Integrity of the Union, with great advantages to England, & also I believe to the U-S themselves – ^<6>

Y^r ever aff Friend
Charles Feilding

[envelope]
H. Fox Talbot Esq^r.
Marquis of Lansdownes
Richmond
Surrey

[note added to back of address panel:]
¹/₂ past 5 Ils viennent d'arriver - l'enfant mieux^<7>

Y^r

---

Notes:

1. Constance Talbot, née Mundy (1811–1880), WHFT’s wife.

2. Henrietta Horatia Maria Gaisford, née Feilding (1810–1851), WHFT’s half-sister.

3. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.

4. Page torn out.

5. Bowood House, nr Calne, Wiltshire, 5 mi NE of Lacock: seat of the Marquess of Lansdowne.

6. Probably the suspension (by S. Carolina) of the ordinance of nullification of the Tariff Act of 1832. The suspension saved the Union; a compromise Tariff Act then reduced duties which was beneficial to exporting countries such as Britain.

7. 5:30 / we have just arrived - the child is better.